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March 31, 1981
Only the House can decide whether to discontinue or not to initiate a debate. Whatever the practice followed, the sub judice convention does not apply when studying bills, that is while the House...
The Speaker ruled that the sub judice convention does not prevent the House from debating legislative matters, including constitutional resolutions, even if the subject is before the courts.
March 27, 1981
Mr. Broadbent (Oshawa) having explained to the House that the information had been obtained from the Office of Federal-Provincial Relations, the argument that all Members did not have equal access...
The Speaker denied a point of order regarding the alleged use of public funds for a political document, stating the Chair does not judge the propriety of government actions.
March 25, 1981
There is no doubt that the eight one-dollar items which cancel debts are pure legislative items and seek in each case to amend section 18(1) of the Financial Administration Act. Whether or not...
The Speaker ruled that using one-dollar supply items to amend legislation, such as the Financial Administration Act, is procedurally out of order.
March 5, 1981
"Matters of this nature, having been referred either to the courts or to an administrative body, are not proper subjects for debate in this House under the terms of Standing Order 26". Moreover,...
The Speaker denied a request for an emergency debate, citing the matter being before an administrative body and the availability of other debate opportunities.
March 5, 1981
The Member "is not satisfied with the answers given to him by the Ministers, but the Chair is not in a position to insist on any other answers or to comment on the quality or substance of such...
The Speaker rules that the Chair cannot compel a Minister to change their answer or comment on its quality during Oral Questions.
March 4, 1981
If it is true to say that a Member elected to a constituency also represents the whole country, then one cannot deny that each member of the Cabinet represents all of Canada. Moreover, the...
The Speaker rules that the assignment of ministerial responsibilities for a region is a potential political grievance, not a breach of privilege.
March 4, 1981
The Chair does not have the duty to uphold the principle of cabinet secrecy, nor does it sit in judgment upon the manner in which Ministers fulfil their responsibilities, including the prevention...
The Speaker ruled that a leak of government estimates is a matter of ministerial responsibility, not a breach of parliamentary privilege for the Chair to adjudicate.
March 2, 1981
The advertisement reflects on the honour of Members and thus could be said to involve contempt of Parliament.
The Speaker rules that an advertisement portraying influence peddling could be a contempt of Parliament as it reflects on the honour of Members.
February 25, 1981
There is no question of privilege because Members' duties do not expressly require them to attend press lock-ups. Furthermore, if the denial of entry put the Member at a disadvantage, it is a...
The Speaker ruled that being denied entry to a press lock-up is not a breach of privilege as it is not an express duty of a Member.
February 2, 1981
According to one authority, references to debates in the other House are out of order for the simple reason that the debates of one of the two Houses remain hypothetically unknown to the other....
The Speaker affirms the rule that members cannot refer to debates in the Senate, as each legislative body manages its own proceedings independently.